infodatos Chapter 98 The Test in the Talisman Chamber
Chapter 98 The Test in the Talisman Chamber
Chapter 98 The Test in the Talisman Chamber
Tingtao Pavilion is located on the cliffside of the back mountain.
This place is shrouded in mist and clouds all year round, with the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Gu Shenyan stood in front of the pavilion and took a deep breath.
It had a unique smell, a mixture of aged pine ink and dried paper.
It also has the flavor of chance.
"Are you ready?"
Beside her, Han Sushuang wore a plain white Taoist robe, her expression aloof.
But Gu Shenyan could see that her fingers, which were gripping the sword, were slightly white.
Clearly, this usually composed young lady from a prominent family was also somewhat nervous at this moment.
After all, this is Lu Banxian's secret talisman hiding place.
"Let's go."
Gu Shenyan said in a low voice.
A barely perceptible blue light flashed in his eyes.
That's a sign that the system is about to start.
Just half an hour ago, he had conducted his final "simulation" in his small hut.
[Assisted training mode activated.]
[Scene Recreation: First floor of Tingtao Pavilion, outside the Talisman Repository.]
[Data import: Topographic map provided by Chen An, shift schedule provided by Zhao Kui, and security logs from previous years.]
Within the space of consciousness, Gu Shenyan had walked this path no less than a hundred times.
He knew by heart where the sentries were and where the spiritual energy restrictions were.
Especially the name Chen An mentioned—Zhao Kui.
The two stepped onto the stairs and arrived at the main entrance of the attic.
A large sandalwood table was placed at the entrance.
A thin, middle-aged man sat behind the desk.
High cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and a pair of triangular eyes that revealed a hint of shrewdness and ruthlessness.
It was Zhao Kui.
"Disciples Gu Shenyan and Han Sushuang, on the orders of Senior Brother Liu, have come to observe."
Gu Shenyan handed over the waist token with both hands, his posture respectful and impeccable.
Zhao Kui took the pass but did not immediately allow passage.
He repeatedly stroked the jade pendant in his hand, his gaze like two venomous snakes, roaming over the two of them.
"Only two hours."
Zhao Kui's voice was high-pitched, like a piece of iron scraping against a porcelain bowl.
"Junior Nephew Shen should have explained the rules to you, right?"
"Observe but do not act, remember but do not copy."
"If it damages the contents, or if it harbors any malicious intent—"
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Zhao Kui chuckled, revealing a set of teeth stained yellow from smoking.
"The consequences could be a lifetime in jail."
That smile concealed undisguised malice.
Gu Shenyan sneered inwardly.
Just as Chen An said, Zhao Kui looked at people as if they were two fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
He's looking for an opportunity.
Find an opportunity to ruin their reputation.
"I understand."
Gu Shenyan remained expressionless and bowed slightly.
Zhao Kui seemed somewhat disappointed by this compliance, pursed his lips, and casually cast a spell.
"Crunch!"
The heavy sandalwood door slowly opened.
An even richer spiritual energy wafted over us.
"Go in."
Zhao Kui waved his hand lazily, but his eyes were fixed on Gu Shenyan's back.
The room where the talismans were kept was dimly lit.
Only the ever-burning lamps on the surrounding walls emitted a dim, yellowish glow.
Rows of tall bookshelves stood like silent giants in the shadows.
There are no windows here, and it's extremely quiet.
It was so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat.
[Environmental scan complete.]
[Warning: Faint spiritual energy fluctuations detected at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions ahead.]
[Analysis result: "Hidden image formation."]
Several red dots instantly appeared on Gu Shenyan's retina.
That's surveillance footage.
If he lingers in front of a book for too long, or if his gaze becomes unusually focused, it will be recorded.
"Junior brother."
Han Sushuang lowered her voice.
"The bookshelves here seem a bit odd."
She pointed to a row of bookshelves on the left.
The talisman diagrams there mostly shimmered with a faint blue light.
"That's the area for talismans related to 'water' and 'ice'."
Gu Shenyan didn't turn his head, but only glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
"Senior sister, you specialize in ice spiritual energy. That is your opportunity, and also your test."
Han Sushuang nodded slightly and walked over.
Gu Shenyan then walked to the right.
That's the area with the metal and fire attributes, and it's also where the most offensive talismans are concentrated.
He stopped in front of a tattered scroll titled "Golden Light Breaks the Evil".
This is the same move Chen An used at the mass grave.
But he didn't reach for it; he simply put his hands behind his back and casually glanced at the spine of the book.
In reality, the system is operating at full speed.
[Instant memory activated.]
[Image capture in progress —]
[Structure analysis in progress————]
Even if it's just a corner of the book page slightly turned, or even just half a rune exposed on the cover.
With the system's terrifying computing power, everything can be quickly modeled and its complete picture derived.
This is the source of Gu Shenyan's confidence.
The idea of "only observing its form" is a complete joke to him.
Sudden.
Gu Shenyan stopped in his tracks.
His gaze fell on a scroll of dark gold illustrations.
The Golden Spear Talisman for Exorcising Evil.
This is a top-tier mid-level attack talisman, specifically designed to break through the protective aura of evil spirits.
The diagram was spread out, its lines strong and powerful, exuding a chilling aura.
At first glance, this is a perfect talisman.
There are no flaws.
If it were any other talisman master genius, they would probably be overjoyed by now, desperately trying to copy it in their minds.
But deep within Gu Shenyan's pupils, the data stream was frantically issuing alarms.
【warn!warn! 】
[Structural trap detected!]
[Analysis of the target talisman's spiritual energy circulation: The talisman's core has been altered at the "Tianchong acupoint" location.]
[Comparison with database: The orthodox "Golden Spear Talisman for Exorcising Evil" should follow the Yang meridian, drawing upon the pure Yang energy of the Nine Heavens.]
[Current diagram: The path reverses, follows the Yin veins, and draws in the turbid and malevolent energy from beneath the earth.]
[Conclusion: This is a variant of the "Soul-Sealing Nail," a Southeast Asian sorcery disguised as orthodox talismans.]
[Harm: If cultivated in this way, the power will be doubled in the early stages, but once the full force is used, the evil energy will backfire, and the practitioner's consciousness will be instantly sealed, rendering them a cripple.]
Gu Shenyan felt a chill run down his spine.
What a ruthless method!
This is going to ruin all the genius talisman masters in the Great Qian Dynasty!
even----
Once this talisman spreads, Lu Banxian's disciples will become puppets in the hands of that Southeast Asian sorcerer.
As long as the other party chants the incantation to detonate that "back door," everyone who practices this talisman will instantly lose the ability to resist.
This is an invasion without the smoke of gunpowder.
Gu Shenyan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the turmoil in his heart.
He turned his gaze away expressionlessly, as if it were just an ordinary low-level talisman.
You must not show any abnormalities.
That Zhao Kui, or rather the person behind Zhao Kui, must be watching this place.
If he shows shock or tries to investigate the "mistake," it's tantamount to telling the other person: I see it.
At that time, what awaited him was not being won over, but being silenced.
the other side.
Han Sushuang also stopped walking.
She stood before a scroll of illustrations titled "Frozen Thousands of Miles," her delicate brows slightly furrowed.
Instead of immersing herself in it as usual, she quietly extended her left hand, which was hidden in her sleeve.
A slight movement of the fingertips.
A wisp of extremely thin cold air swirled around his fingertips, mimicking the flow of spiritual energy on the diagram.
Sudden.
"Pop".
The chill inexplicably dissipated when it reached a critical point.
It even pierced her meridians from the opposite direction.
Han Sushuang's face turned pale, and she immediately cut off her spiritual power.
She turned her head sharply and looked at Gu Shenyan.
His eyes were filled with horror.
This is a book with incorrect sheet music!
Moreover, the mistake is extremely subtle; if one were to force oneself to cultivate it, one's meridians would surely be severed!
Gu Shenyan happened to look over at that moment.
Their eyes met in the dim air.
Gu Shenyan shook his head slightly.
His eyes were calm, yet they revealed a firm resolve.
He gestured to her: "Don't make a sound, don't move."
Han Sushuang was a smart person and instantly understood what he meant.
She took a deep breath, calmed the surging blood in her body, and pretended to be nonchalant as she continued walking forward.
The two of them walked silently through the room, which was filled with traps and treasures.
Don't touch it, don't investigate it too deeply.
Like two of the most law-abiding fools.
Time passed by, second by second.
The observation session was about to end.
Zhao Kui, who had been observing from the shadows, was starting to get restless.
He originally thought that the two young people would definitely succumb to temptation and touch those restrictions, or become addicted to those tampered "divine skills".
But these two people were as slippery as eels.
Especially that Gu Shenyan.
Everything seems to be viewed superficially, without any real focus.
"Since you won't take action, then I'll help you."
In the shadows, Zhao Kui's lips curled into a sinister smile.
He pretended to tidy up the bookshelf and walked to a corner behind Gu Shenyan.
He held a jade bead the size of a fingernail in his hand.
Those are "dust-repelling beads" used to remove dust from bookshelves; they are incredibly hard.
His gaze was fixed on a lamp that burned eternally three feet away from Gu Shenyan.
Underneath the lamp base was a very thin talisman.
That was a "sound alarm symbol".
It emits a piercing shriek when subjected to even the slightest vibration.
Then he can rightfully rush out and accuse Gu Shenyan of plotting something sinister and attempting to steal lamp oil!
Is the reason absurd?
It's okay.
In this place, he is the rule.
"go!"
Zhao Kui flicked his fingers slightly.
A very subtle spiritual energy enveloped the jade bead and shot out silently.
It moved with lightning speed, heading straight for the ever-burning lamp.
The angle is extremely tricky.
at the same time.
Gu Shenyan was discussing the structure of a "Thick Earth Talisman" with Han Sushuang in a low voice.
"Senior sister, look, isn't the flow of this earth element energy a bit...?"
In that very instant.
In Gu Shenyan's mind, an alarm blared.
[WARNING! High-speed flying object approaching!]
[Trajectory Calculation: Target – Left rearmost lamp holder.]
[Source: Six O'Clock Direction, Zhao Kui.]
[Impact countdown: 0.3 seconds.]
Gu Shenyan's eyes suddenly turned cold.
Finally couldn't hold back anymore?
He didn't turn around, nor did he make any significant evasive movements.
That would be too deliberate.
He simply took a small, seemingly casual step to the left, as if to give Han Sushuang a better view.
But this seemingly casual step actually captures the essence of the "Linghe Step".
As he turned around, his sleeve suddenly swept backward.
A gentle yet resilient force, with the billowing of the sleeves, precisely struck the air.
"call"
Air currents surge.
The jade bead that shot towards them was struck by this sudden gust of air.
The originally straight trajectory underwent a barely perceptible deflection.
Just this one-inch deviation.
"Yes."
A very faint muffled thud.
The jade bead flew past the lamp base without touching the alarm symbol at all.
Finally, it landed steadily in the incense ash basin in the corner.
Not even much dust was stirred up.
The whole process happened in the blink of an eye.
Han Sushuang felt a gentle breeze pass by her and looked at Gu Shenyan with some confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Gu Shenyan had already turned around, a gentle smile on his face.
"It's nothing, I just felt a bit stuffy in this place and wanted to change locations to get some fresh air."
As he spoke, the light seemed to sweep faintly across the shadows in the corner.
There, Zhao Kui remained frozen in place, still in the snapping gesture.
Those triangular eyes were filled with disbelief.
How is that possible?
coincidence?
It's absolutely a coincidence!
How could this kid possibly neutralize my hidden force with a precise sleeve wind without even turning his head?
Zhao Kui broke out in a cold sweat.
He suddenly realized that this seemingly harmless newcomer might not be an easy target at all.
It was a sheet of iron.
"Time's up!"
Just then, Shen Qingyi's cold voice came from outside the door.
Zhao Kui felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly composed himself, coughed lightly, and stepped out of the shadows.
"Ahem—Well, since it's time, let's get out of here."
His voice was somewhat weak, and he no longer had the arrogance he had before.
Gu Shenyan looked at him and smiled slightly.
"Thank you for looking after me, Senior Brother Zhao."
That laugh sent chills down Zhao Kui's spine.
Outside the attic.
The sunlight was a bit too bright.
Shen Qingyi stood under the pine tree, watching the two people who came out.
"how?"
She asked casually.
"What did you learn?"
This is also part of the assessment.
If these two can only memorize by rote, then they'll stop here.
Han Sushuang glanced at Gu Shenyan, signaling him to speak first.
Gu Shenyan cupped his hands and said, "Replying to Senior Sister, the talisman room is vast and profound; this disciple has only scratched the surface."
"but----"
He paused, his tone becoming sincere and "naive".
"When I was studying the 'Golden Spear Talisman for Exorcising Evil,' I felt that although the brushstrokes were powerful, I always felt that the spiritual energy was somewhat stagnant at the Tianchong acupoint."
"This disciple dares to guess that this might be a test left by a senior master, who deliberately made some changes to the structure to test the disciple's eyesight."
"As for the 'Golden Light Breaks Evil,' it is upright and peaceful, fully demonstrating the righteous spirit of our Taoist school."
Shen Qingyi's eyes suddenly lit up.
She looked intently at Gu Shenyan, and a satisfied smile finally appeared on her lips.
"You noticed?"
"This disciple only has an intuition."
Gu Shenyan lowered his head modestly.
"What a great intuition."
Shen Qingyi nodded, her tone now tinged with admiration.
"Master said that in the path of talismanic arts, the most important thing is not memory, but comprehension."
"The fact that you could see the problem with that talisman shows that you haven't been blinded by greed."
"very good."
She then looked at Han Sushuang.
Han Sushuang also frankly expressed her doubts about "Frozen Thousand Miles".
After hearing this, Shen Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Since you have all passed the test, there are some things I will no longer hide from you."
"Those problematic diagrams were indeed mixed in."
"But—that was not Master's original intention."
Shen Qingyi's voice was very low, carrying a hint of coldness.
"Someone is trying to muddy the waters in our area."
"You have passed today's test."
"Go back and cultivate diligently. Remember, keep today's events to yourself."
"Yes."
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